I like Quarry Beetle. Another way to get lands back from your graveyard (untapped too) and a decent body too for 5 mana.
Tenacious Hunter looks really fun too for limited. Those -1/-1 counter decks will definitely look at it. 4/4 vigilance deathstrike is a pretty nice deal.
sigh Crypt of Eternals is sutch a disapointment of a story relevant card.
In what way? It looks more like our second ever type of tri-land then a story card.
Its worse then a triland. Hell its worse then a comon filter card like Shimmering Grotto
But it's marginally better than Castle Sengir. Take THAT, Homelands!
Crypt of Eternals DOES give you a point of life, so it's not strictly inferior to Grotto. If your deck gets a side benefit from incremental lifegain (oh look, indestructible megahorse!) it's relevant. In fact, I do believe this is the first land in Magic history that enters the battlefield untapped, gives you life when it enters the battlefield, and can produce colored mana. Others have done two of the three, but not all three.
Scanning through the gallery, there are only 5 cards I definitely want from the set for play and 9 other cards that may be considerable depending on whether there is space for them after I check up on my decklists (which isn't now).
Considering I have 8 EDH decks, that's not a very impressive initial record. Most of the time cards fall off after some time of testing and very, very seldom does a set contribute more than its initial record of cards to be tried, so yeah.
The story and flavor are impressive (moreso than Amonkhet, which I found quite bland personally), but the set itself feels lacking compared to Amonkhet. About the only nice thing is that the Storyline Spotlight cards are the 5 hours, which marks the first time an entire cycle are the spotlights (which gives it some sort of elegance, but that's about it).
I can see the Limited applications of the set, but since I seldom play Limited (usually only the Prerelease), there isn't much else to say. I wouldn't say it's the worst set ever (technically the worst sets are also terrible to play in Limited), but on the constructed front it really gets a resounding meh.
Unconventional Tactics: I got to be honest, I'm overjoyed this was made. As not only is it silly, like the Mummy Paramount, but it also returns itself from the the tomb.
Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs: So its 0/4 wall for 2, that can ping the opponent but it requires a desert. Alright. I can dig it.
Unquenchable Thirst: In some ways, a strictly better Claustrophobia. As if you are already running deserts, its the same effect but for 1 less.
Imaginary Threats: Oh that will be comedic to use to then alpha strike with.
Riddleform: Well that is an interesting throwback.
Moaning Wall: Yeah, I was planning on sleeping anyway.
Puncture Blow: Would feel bad to be the guy who got say The Scorpion God in the draft and then on their opponent's turn they just blow it up and then exile it.
Magmaroth: Good thing red loves to use so many noncreature spells.
seems like G didn't get a new legendary, unlike the other 4 colours
The whole block seemed to disfavor green a bit. Even taking into account that this set is supposed to be a "Bolas-themed" one, white gets a lot more love than green here (green is maybe the least Bolas-y color?)..
In the whole block, green got a grand total of two one-drop creatures.
It's the same problem bestow had in Theros and a lot of the morph in Khans. You pay extra for the utility it gives you, but the cost on all but one or two creatures ends up being too high to ever be worth it in constructed. Thus one of the big mechanics of the set ends up being completely non-viable outside of draft.
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My decks
Standard - RIP Cat
Modern - Death & Taxes
Commander - Mazirek, Trostani, Angry Omnath
Well, Wizards flat out lied about having better answers starting with this set as far as I can tell. I'm glad to see that Bolas is cool, and I want a foil HoD,but that doesn't change them being liars, and I hope this set sells like Homelands.I usually do a few drafts, that will not be the case with this set. I will buy my couple busted threat singles and be done
Lies about what?
Hour of Revelation takes care of everything including PW
An entire list of cards to help with graveyards (answers to zombies and potential other decks) Nimble Obstructionist seems solid and an answer to many annoying triggers.
You don't think Supreme Will will be a card that shows up? Mana Leak / Impulse seems good to me. Abrade seems stupid good. Kill a Heart of Kiran or take out a creature...not sure how that's not an answer.
Of course the namesake Hour of Devastation ... not an answer?
While not an exact answer but Ramunap Hydra can be bigger than pretty much any threat including Kiran and with the vigilance lets them play defensively and aggressively against zombies.
I mean seems like there's plenty here to help shake standard up. For a non-rotating set, I think this will create more decks than most.
As soon as I saw that your post was content-free and confuses difference of opinions with passive-aggressiveness, I took no real offense.
My list is a mixed of standard-playables, modern-playables and intriguing cards for casual. I'm mentioning this for others who might have an actual conversation to hold.
PS: did Wizards clarify if imminent doom damage is the # of doom counters or the CMC of the spell?
That being said, the set feels like Wizards is very much "playing it safe" again. I'm of the opinion that power doesn't have to equal fun, but I do wish that they'd put less of a focus on darn Limited for once.
PS: did Wizards clarify if imminent doom damage is the # of doom counters or the CMC of the spell?
I mean, it'll be the same number most of the time, but I'm certain that it counts doom counters in the case of proliferate. Generally speaking, cards that deal damage equal to CMC don't use the "that much" template. See Blast of Genius and Cerebral Eruption for the template used to count CMC.
BUT THE FLAVOR TEXT ON HALF OF THESE CARDS ARE AWFUL.
"Liliana always knew that Jace's illusions would come in handy." I honest to god threw up in my mouth.
"Bolas remade this plane in his image. He has the advantage here. We must approach carefully." Thanks captain obvious.
"I was promised an afterlife, not this. Samut was right. The God-Pharaoh lied." Did you need the second half? Honestly, the first sentence would have had a nice ambiance to it. It would have been short and sweet. But no... this set has some real trash flavor text. Why Wizards? Why?! This has been trending since at LEAST Dragons of Tarkir.
Was really hoping Hazoret would get more love in the art or lore of the final spoilers, given her story position. But alas....
Set seems fun for limited and will have some nice contributions to EDH and standard, but for some reason I can't explain, nothing excites me here. Maybe it's just that we see a cool conceptual world upended for the umpteenth time? I don't know. Just can't get very excited about the set.
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Vorthos-player with way too much time on his hands and a love of thematic decks.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
BUT THE FLAVOR TEXT ON HALF OF THESE CARDS ARE AWFUL.
"Liliana always knew that Jace's illusions would come in handy." I honest to god threw up in my mouth.
"Bolas remade this plane in his image. He has the advantage here. We must approach carefully." Thanks captain obvious.
"I was promised an afterlife, not this. Samut was right. The God-Pharaoh lied." Did you need the second half? Honestly, the first sentence would have had a nice ambiance to it. It would have been short and sweet. But no... this set has some real trash flavor text. Why Wizards? Why?! This has been trending since at LEAST Dragons of Tarkir.
Despite the overall criticism, I see some interesting cards I was not expecting to be in the set.
Perhaps the biggest thing I want to bring up is how many different cards between both sets in the block feature Archfiend of Ifnir getting messed up. I feel bad for the poor guy!
Its worse then a triland. Hell its worse then a comon filter card like Shimmering Grotto
I like Quarry Beetle. Another way to get lands back from your graveyard (untapped too) and a decent body too for 5 mana.
Tenacious Hunter looks really fun too for limited. Those -1/-1 counter decks will definitely look at it. 4/4 vigilance deathstrike is a pretty nice deal.
But it's marginally better than Castle Sengir. Take THAT, Homelands!
Crypt of Eternals DOES give you a point of life, so it's not strictly inferior to Grotto. If your deck gets a side benefit from incremental lifegain (oh look, indestructible megahorse!) it's relevant. In fact, I do believe this is the first land in Magic history that enters the battlefield untapped, gives you life when it enters the battlefield, and can produce colored mana. Others have done two of the three, but not all three.
"A gentleman will walk but never run"
Considering I have 8 EDH decks, that's not a very impressive initial record. Most of the time cards fall off after some time of testing and very, very seldom does a set contribute more than its initial record of cards to be tried, so yeah.
The story and flavor are impressive (moreso than Amonkhet, which I found quite bland personally), but the set itself feels lacking compared to Amonkhet. About the only nice thing is that the Storyline Spotlight cards are the 5 hours, which marks the first time an entire cycle are the spotlights (which gives it some sort of elegance, but that's about it).
I can see the Limited applications of the set, but since I seldom play Limited (usually only the Prerelease), there isn't much else to say. I wouldn't say it's the worst set ever (technically the worst sets are also terrible to play in Limited), but on the constructed front it really gets a resounding meh.
1 Crested Sunmare
1 Djeru, With Eyes Open
1 Hour of Revelation
1 Overwhelming Splendor
1 Solemnity
1 Champion of Wits
1 Fraying Sanity
1 Kefnet's Last Word
1 Nimble Obstructionist
1 Supreme Will
1 Ammit Eternal
1 Bontu's Last Reckoning
1 Tragic Lesson
1 Torment of Hailfire
1 Vile Manifestation
1 Hazoret's Undying Fury
1 Hour of Devastation
1 Imminent Doom
1 Hour of Promise
1 Runamap Excavator
1 Rhona's Last Stand
1 The Locust God
1 Nocal Bolas, God-Pharaoh
1 The Scarab God
1 The Scorpion God
1 Claim // Fame
1 Hollow One
1 Act of Heroism
1 Desert's Hold
1 Oketra's Avenger
1 Saving Grace
1 Unconventional Tactics
1 Doomfall
1 Unsommon
1 Lethal Sting
1 Torment of Scarabs
1 Torment of Venom
1 Without Weakness
1 Burning-Fist Minotaur
1 Crash Through
1 Ambuscade
1 Bitterbow Sharpshooters
1 Overcome
1 Bloodwater Entity
1 Obelisk Spider
1 River Hoopoe
1 Unraveling Mummy
So, not too bad. About the normal amount of cards.
PS: among the new reveal, vile manifestation in intriguing for modern.
As soon as I saw Imminent Doom and Overwhelming Splendor in your list, I disregarded it.
Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs: So its 0/4 wall for 2, that can ping the opponent but it requires a desert. Alright. I can dig it.
Unquenchable Thirst: In some ways, a strictly better Claustrophobia. As if you are already running deserts, its the same effect but for 1 less.
Imaginary Threats: Oh that will be comedic to use to then alpha strike with.
Riddleform: Well that is an interesting throwback.
Moaning Wall: Yeah, I was planning on sleeping anyway.
Puncture Blow: Would feel bad to be the guy who got say The Scorpion God in the draft and then on their opponent's turn they just blow it up and then exile it.
Magmaroth: Good thing red loves to use so many noncreature spells.
Firebrand Archer: Guttersnipe's more prodigious sister.
In the whole block, green got a grand total of two one-drop creatures.
One of them is a strictly inferior Basking Rootwalla.
The other is an on-color but less efficient Embodiment of Spring.
Bring on Ixalan and the Old-Growth Dryads.
Standard - RIP Cat
Modern - Death & Taxes
Commander - Mazirek, Trostani, Angry Omnath
Lies about what?
Hour of Revelation takes care of everything including PW
An entire list of cards to help with graveyards (answers to zombies and potential other decks)
Nimble Obstructionist seems solid and an answer to many annoying triggers.
You don't think Supreme Will will be a card that shows up? Mana Leak / Impulse seems good to me.
Abrade seems stupid good. Kill a Heart of Kiran or take out a creature...not sure how that's not an answer.
Of course the namesake Hour of Devastation ... not an answer?
While not an exact answer but Ramunap Hydra can be bigger than pretty much any threat including Kiran and with the vigilance lets them play defensively and aggressively against zombies.
I mean seems like there's plenty here to help shake standard up. For a non-rotating set, I think this will create more decks than most.
As soon as I saw that your post was content-free and confuses difference of opinions with passive-aggressiveness, I took no real offense.
My list is a mixed of standard-playables, modern-playables and intriguing cards for casual. I'm mentioning this for others who might have an actual conversation to hold.
PS: did Wizards clarify if imminent doom damage is the # of doom counters or the CMC of the spell?
Just look at the art!!
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Because this is an enchant creature, and all curses are enchant player?
It's pretty clearly in the vein of Dehydration and Thirst.
That being said, the set feels like Wizards is very much "playing it safe" again. I'm of the opinion that power doesn't have to equal fun, but I do wish that they'd put less of a focus on darn Limited for once.
I mean, it'll be the same number most of the time, but I'm certain that it counts doom counters in the case of proliferate. Generally speaking, cards that deal damage equal to CMC don't use the "that much" template. See Blast of Genius and Cerebral Eruption for the template used to count CMC.
BUT THE FLAVOR TEXT ON HALF OF THESE CARDS ARE AWFUL.
"Liliana always knew that Jace's illusions would come in handy." I honest to god threw up in my mouth.
"Bolas remade this plane in his image. He has the advantage here. We must approach carefully." Thanks captain obvious.
"I was promised an afterlife, not this. Samut was right. The God-Pharaoh lied." Did you need the second half? Honestly, the first sentence would have had a nice ambiance to it. It would have been short and sweet. But no... this set has some real trash flavor text. Why Wizards? Why?! This has been trending since at LEAST Dragons of Tarkir.
Standard:
GMono-Green CountersG
Modern:
URStormUR
XMyr OverflowX
BWBlack-White TokensBW
EDH:
WUGrand Arbiter Augustine's Spell DenialWU
WGRhys's TokensWG
RKrenko's CommandR
Set seems fun for limited and will have some nice contributions to EDH and standard, but for some reason I can't explain, nothing excites me here. Maybe it's just that we see a cool conceptual world upended for the umpteenth time? I don't know. Just can't get very excited about the set.
EDH - Yes, Each One is Named After a Song. I love tying music to my decks.
B Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief B - Fear of the Dark
WG Sigarda, Heron's Grace WG - Strength in Numbers
RG Xenagos, God of Revels RG - Fullmoon (It's werewolves)
RW Archangel Avacyn // Avacyn, the Purifier RW - The End is Nigh
60 Card Kitchen Table Decks
WUB Avacyn, Spirit Ferrier
RG Arlinn Kord's Howlpack
Would you rather have a standard with infinite combos and turn 4 ulamogs?
Reall, REALLY agree.
"I was promised an afterlife, not htis. Samut was right. The God-Pharaoh lied."
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Perhaps the biggest thing I want to bring up is how many different cards between both sets in the block feature Archfiend of Ifnir getting messed up. I feel bad for the poor guy!
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Innistrad - The Darkest Night
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